Liam nodded again. He didn't recognize those names, but that didn't really matter. A little hesitantly he reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. "That's true. But it's better than nothing, isn't it?" He wasn't sure if that was the right thing to say, but it was all he could think of. What could he say to that?

"Mm." Odette breathed in through her nose and let it out as a sigh. Her gaze slid to the piano keys, and she suddenly felt very tired. She wished she had work today. Being at the Grotto always made her feel better. Or at least too distracted to brood.

"A little," said Liam, grateful for the change of subject. "I've been to the Magic Bean a few times, poked around the Inkstone a bit, and I work at Deep Treble. S'where I got my cello. Employee discounts are amazing." He grinned. "And I've been meaning to look at the pet store. Anywhere else you'd recommend?"

She thought for a moment, then added, "I r-really like the comic store. And I work at the G-Grotto. It's a thrifty little c-collectibles place. Lots of antiques and hidden g-gems. You j-just have to explore a b-bit."

Liam nodded, grinning. "I'll have to check those out, then. Maybe you could show me around the Grotto sometime? Or we could get drinks at the Magic Bean and make a day of exploring the town some weekend."